Performing Manual Planning

Data entry is key to planning functionality. SAP Analytics Cloud's planning functionality makes it easy to enter data, perform calculations on that data, and write it back to your database.

In the following example, you can see some of the key data entry features in SAP Analytics Cloud:

• Adjust plan by +/-, %, or absolute value.
• Shortcut scaling characters to simplify input.
• Automatic highlights of impacted and related cells.
• Messages with number of records changed.

Data tables in stories are automatically scaled to thousands or millions, depending on the data. The scaling factor is displayed on the upper left of the data table. When you enter numeric values, for example 10 as in the following example, the system automatically displays the scaling factor in the cell.

It is also possible to set scaling for a table in the data region styles.

You can see in the following example that when there's a data change an asterisk appears in the affected column. The asterisk and the yellow markup mean that the data entry function is being used but not published.

Data entries can be tested before you save and publish them.

You can type an absolute value in a cell or type a relative value such as *2 or +500 to perform simple mathematical calculations on existing data. For example, if the data value in a cell is 100, and you type *2 in the cell, the value will change to 200.

You can also include the scale when typing a value. For example, if you want to enter the value 1,000,000, you can simply type 1M, and SAP Analytics Cloud will interpret that entry as 1,000,000.

When data is entered for a parent member, the system automatically disaggregates the parent data to the children, either equally or in proportion to existing values. This saves you time as you don't have to enter data for every base member.

Disaggregation can be controlled as follows:

• Filter the data table so that input cells only represent base members.
• You can control disaggregation by enabling Data Disaggregation - Data Locking and / or Data Disaggregation - Validation Rules in the planning model and also in the data table.

There are several terms that relate to disaggregation, such as allocation and distribution. In this context, we're using these definitions:

• Disaggregation: The system automatically assigns values entered for a parent to its children equally, or proportionally, based on the existing values.
• Allocation: This is based on explicit instructions in an allocation process.
• Distribute: This is an option in the planning panel used in stories.

In the following Disaggregation example, discounts are disaggregated:

1. Existing discounts: The children of the Discounts account in Feb (2025) contain existing values that total .8m. In Mar (2025) no values are posted for Discounts.
2. New discounts: Values of 1m for Discounts in Feb (2025) and in Mar (2025) are entered.
3. Discounts disaggregated:
   • The delta of .2m is spread proportionally to Pricing Adjustments and Sale Allowances. Since every dimension in the model is restricted to base members in the table filter, only two records are updated.
   • The 1m entered for Discounts in Mar (2025) is disaggregated equally to the four children accounts because they don’t contain any data.

If you enter a value in an unbooked cell, then the following rules are used to determine how to disaggregate the value along each dimension:

• If the unassigned member (#) is available as a leaf member of the source cell, then this member receives the same value as the source cell and other members of the dimension remain unbooked.
• The unassigned member may not be available and in these cases, the value is spread to base members based on the dimension's aggregation type. Some reasons why the unassigned member may not be available:
  • It's filtered out of the table.
  • It doesn't aggregate up to the source cell.
  • It doesn't exist for dimensions such as Time and Account. In these cases, the value is spread to base members based on the dimension’s aggregation type.

Visit the SAP Help Portal to find additional information about the disaggregation of values during data entry

Cell locks prevent data entry for specific table cells and are defined in the table. If you lock a table cell, then the value in that cell isn't updated when you change the data.

When using cell locks, it's important to remember:

• They are saved with the story.
• They are page-specific.
• They are story-specific.
• They apply to everyone who accesses the same page in the same story.

You set locks individually in the table by right-clicking a cell and choosing Lock Cell.

You set locks on multiple cells by using the Value Lock Management panel. The Value Lock Management panel can be accessed from the main toolbar in the ...More option.

In the following example, five key elements for cell locking are highlighted:

1. Lock a cell: Right-click on a specific cell and lock it. This prevents data entry and disaggregation won't update the cell.
2. View all locks: View existing locks and their priority in Value Lock Order.
3. Set new lock: Create a new lock.
4. Clear locks: Clear all locks at once.
5. Reset priority: Reset the lock order.

To change a lock's priority, you can rearrange locks in the Value Lock Management panel. In the Value Lock Order, you can drag a lock to change the priority. After you move one lock, priority values appear for all locks in the list with their specific priority.

When you lock a table cell, the value in that cell won't be updated when you change the data. By default, data entry processes have lower priority than cell locks. If you want to give data entry processes higher priority, you can change the order of the locks.

When you need to prevent input for a large range of cells, you can use the Set/unset read only for selected cells option. However, remember that the Set/unset read only for selected cells setting doesn’t prevent disaggregation.

To use this option, follow these steps:

1. Highlight the cells that you want to disable for input.
2. Go to … More in the Tools area of the ribbon.
3. Select Set/unset read only for selected cells.

Once applied, the selected cells are grayed out and data entry isn't possible.

When you save the story, the Set/unset read only for selected cells setting is retained.